Fire Prevention Week kicks off Sunday, October 4, and this year’s theme is “Serve Up Fire Safety in the Kitchen.”

Kitchen fires are the #1 cause of home fires, and home fire injuries, and unattended cooking is the leading cause of these fires.

South Bend Fire Chief Carl Buchanon says some of the simplest things we can do to prevent home fires is “never leave anything on the stove unattended, always extinguish candles when leaving the house and have your furnace or fireplace serviced professionally prior to using them.”

Due to ongoing COVID-19 precautions, all South Bend Fire Department Fire Prevention Week activities will be virtual. You can stay updated on the happenings during the week, including safety tips, kid’s activities, giveaways and the introduction of a virtual classroom for children, by following the department’s Facebook page.

For any fire safety and prevention questions, call the South Bend Fire Department at (574) 235-5562. For more general information about Fire Prevention Week and cooking fire prevention, visit fpw.org.

For Michigan residents, the Benton Harbor Department of Public Safety is hosting a drive-thru Smoke Detector/Fire Prevention Give-A-Way from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, October 4 at the Benton Harbor Firehouse.

To find out more about Fire Prevention Week programs and activities in Benton Harbor, contact the Benton Harbor Department of Public Safety at (269) 927-8434.